Adler Park School first-grade student Logan Hyatt takes a taste of frosting while he and fellow classmates made gingerbread houses Friday at the Libertyville school. First-grade students have been learning about winter holidays and reading gingerbread-themed books.Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

Ethan Stanescu, 10 months, crawls under the limbo stick while his mother Eliza Gryc of Aurora watches during the first Holiday Jammy Jam at Cantigny Park in Wheaton Saturday.Suzanne Caraker | Staff Photographer

Rev. Donald Frye of St. James Episcopal Church in West Dundee brings in the last box of food unloaded from the truck to be made into 120 dinner packages for local families in need on Saturday, December 18. This is the third year the church has raised funds and administered the Christmas Dinner Outreach Program. This year, it is giving dinners to the Kane County Area Head Start, Kane County Veterans Administration, the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Interfaith Pantry and to clients of the FISH Food Pantry in Carpentersville.Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Randy Kohler lights luminarias in his yard Sunday night in the Patriot Meadows subdivision in Cary. He said he has been a part of the neighborhood glow since he moved there 18 years ago. Spruce Tree Drive is decorated with more than 1,200 luminarias.John Starks | Staff Photographer

Marie Stahmer, 12 of Harvard works her Boston terrier Mojo during the Skokie Valley Kennel Club dog show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The twelve-year-old was competing in the adult or conformation class as well as the junior class. Stahmer and her dog received a Select Dog award at the Rosemont show.Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Nicole Wojcik, 13, high fives Santa with her sister Caroline, 13 while their little brother and sister Matthew and Victoria hug Santa, along with friend Megdalena Jopek, 13, right, during Santa's visit to the Hanover Township Open Gym program at Bartlett Elementary. The program gives the children something to do over the holiday break. Monday about 95 children attended, with activities including basketball, coloring, legos and board games.Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Boy Scout Troop 37 member Adam Davis, 17, of Prospect Heights, offers some toy choices to Little City resident Billy Cooper Monday at Little City in Palatine. The scouts distributed toys for a toy drive by the 100 Percent Foundation.Bill Zars@bzarsdailyherald.com

Jaime Roblos drives around a west side St. Charles neighborhood with his tractor and large attached snow blower, looking for people who need help clearing their driveways. Roblos doesn't ask for money but sometimes people offer him cash for his services. "I sometimes make up to 50 dollars, that helps fill up my truck", Roblos said.Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Margaret Suehr, vocational coordinator at Journeys from PADS to HOPE in Palatine, blows out candles Tuesday that are sitting on a table draped in holiday lights and a table cloth, as the center held its annual Homeless Memorial Service to honor the area´s homeless who have died during the past year.George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Sparks flare as wood in the Winter Solstice Bonfire tumbles at Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve on Tuesday, December 21. It is the day of the year with the least daylight, or one can say the longest night of the year. Over 30 adults and children gathered around the bonfire to learn about how different cultures celebrated the winter solstice, as well as the scientific explanation of the earth's location to the sun at the solstice.Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Martin Huerta, left, gets emotional while talking about the difficulties with the premature birth of his son Martin Huerta, Jr., right, on the lap of his mother Angelica Salas of Plainfield. They were able to bring the baby home in time for Christmas. He was born threee months premature at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. In the center are sisters Brenda, 9 and Jasmine, 10, right.Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

Josh Graber of Carpentersville and Emily Caliende of Algonquin walk hand in hand as they climb the sledding hill at Randall Oaks in West Dundee.Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Santa gives a hug to Helen Hecketsweiler of Mundelein during his visit to Winchester House in Libertyville Wednesday during a holiday luncheon held for rehabilitation patients and a few longer-term residents.Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

Jake Baxa, 10 and Tommy Yurishich, 12 of Batavia get some air as they hit a jump while sledding at Fabyan Park in Batavia.Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Tina Jordahl, 15, left, Kayla Suchomski, 15, and Caitlin O'Keefe, 16 all from Hoffman Estates, volunteer to wrap presents to raise money for the National Inclusion Project Wednesday at Westfield Hawthorn Shopping Center in Vernon Hills. The National Inclusion Project serves to bridge the gap that exists between young people with disabilities and the world around them.Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church held mass with Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago George Rassas in Gurnee on Christmas Eve.George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Becky Hornbeck and her granddaughter Luka Bajlovic are all smiles during the Christmas Eve service at Grace United Methodist Church in Naperville Friday.PAUL MICHNA | Staff Photographer

Mark Link, owner of Uncle Bub's Restaurant in Westmont, helps Tony Martin Jr., of Westmont make his selections from the buffet. Link was joined by his family and friends, along with many of his employees who donated their time to volunteer as cooks, greeters, and servers to feed 300 people Christmas day.Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer

Charlie Brown and his wife, Alice, of Geneva finish a version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with gusto at the annual Christmas brunch at Lazarus House in St. Charles Saturday. The pair have been coming to sing Christmas carols at the brunch for several years, as well as friend Steven Henry of Elburn.Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Cole Hemmes, 7, of Batavia gets help from dad Kimo Hemmes,while filling his plate at the annual Christmas brunch at Lazarus House in St. Charles Saturday. Cole's mom, Shannon, and older brother, Case, 10, were also along for the brunch.Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Nicole Wojcik, 13, gives Santa a high five during his visit to the Hanover Township's Open Gym program at Bartlett Elementary.Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Horses donning Santa hats greet each other in a pasture at Canterfield Farm in West Dundee on Christmas day.Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer